Knife-like shards of glass are embedded in the bedroom wall of Pat and Winston Tavinor's Northland home, a chilling reminder of how lucky the couple is to be alive.
Mrs Tavinor was in the bedroom, standing in front of the windows, at about 12.30pm yesterday when she heard a huge roar. She looked up to see a tornado descending on her home.
"I saw the wind coming and ran into the passageway just as the windows blew in. All around there was this terrible wind - make-up and ornaments from my dressing table were flying down the passageway after me.
"I was screaming and crying out for Winston because I knew he was outside."
Mr Tavinor was at his letterbox checking the mail when the twister hit.
"It had been raining all morning and there was a brief lull in the weather, so I decided to go down the drive and check the mail.
"I heard the sound of it and saw debris flying up the road toward me. It nearly knocked me over. I don't remember what happened next but I must have run up the drive. The next thing I knew, I was inside and I heard this huge smashing noise as the neighbour's basement windows and garage door blew out."
Mr Tavinor said the couple, who had lived at the normally tranquil Cable Bay settlement for more than 12 years, felt very lucky to be alive.
"It was absolutely terrifying. You see this sort of thing on television but you never think it will happen to you.
"It came with no warning. You haven't got time to do anything."
- NORTHERN ADVOCATE
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